Data exchange: Facebook comments on the planned change in terms and conditions on WhatsApp
Source: Hardware Luxx added 08th Jan 2021
In the past few days, the planned changes to WhatsApp’s terms and conditions have made waves. Facebook intends to interlink its social media platform and the messenger service more closely and intends to link all data with one another in the future. However, all EU citizens should not be forced to do so. According to Niamh Sweeney, Director of Policy at Whatsapp, the upcoming Messenger update on the European market will not make any changes to the exchange of data between WhatsApp and Facebook.
However, this does not mean that Facebook does not receive any data from the messenger service. As can be seen from the WhatsApp FAQ, the telephone number that was verified when WhatsApp was registered and some device information are transmitted. In addition to the device ID, this also includes the operating system version as well as the app version and platform information, country code of the mobile number and much more. Usage information, such as the last usage period for WhatsApp, is also shared with Facebook. The type and frequency is also mentioned in the FAQ mentioned. Thus, a large amount of data from the individual users already flows through the installation of the messenger. If you don’t want this, you only have the option of completely doing without the messenger.
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Everyone who is currently looking for an alternative and does not want to use a data octopus on their own smartphone should take a closer look at the Messenger Signal. The encrypted messenger is operated by the Signal Foundation and can be used with both iOS devices and Android mobile phones. A corresponding desktop version is also available for Windows, macOS and Linux systems. A free download can be found here.